European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Vegetarian Foods
In a significant vote on Wednesday, European Parliament members decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict food names such as "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
The Decision Signifies
If this proposal becomes law, popular plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may need to change their names throughout European Union markets.
However, before the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from most of the EU's 27 countries, which is far from certain.
The Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Proponents contend that customers require transparent information and while traditional names must only describe items from animals.
"A steak and sausages represent goods from our livestock: not synthetic production or vegetable sources," said French MEP Céline Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the decision populist tactics.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and soy sausage don't mislead shoppers, just certain lawmakers," said Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Judicial Background
This marks another attempt to regulate such names. EU lawmakers rejected a comparable ban in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a domestic restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under European legislation in 2024.
Business and Public Response
Leading German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl oppose the measure, cautioning that altering familiar names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite surveys indicating that most shoppers understand these names as long as items are clearly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers understand the terminology provided items are explicitly labelled vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
The legislative measure now requires review by EU member states, where it must obtain broad approval to be enacted.
Given the mixed opinions within various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal remains uncertain.
